The government closed down 320 schools due to non-compliance in a blitz across the Harare province.
Office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province in collaboration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and Local Authorities launched a blitz across the province to expose schools and colleges operating without Government licenses, ZIMRA registration, and local authority permits.
“Whilst the initial list comprised of 400 illegal schools and colleges, the blitz managed to identify 448 schools and colleges that did not comply with any government or local authority requirement,” Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Harare Metropolitan Province, Tafadzwa Muguti said.
“To date, a total of 320 schools have been shut down due to non-compliance, whilst 273 owners of these illegal institutions have since been arrested and appearing before the courts.”
The blitz against colleges in Harare will affect 22,569 students enrolled at illegal institutions when schools reopen on the 7th of February 2022.
Muguti said, “The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in consultation with all stakeholders has therefore extended a grace period of up to the 31st of March 2022 for all these illegal schools and colleges to regularise their operations.”
“We, therefore, encourage all those operating schools and colleges illegally across the Province to take advantage of this grace period and regularise with the Ministry, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and all local authorities.”
Owners of schools that were identified already and arrested will still have to appear in court.
Muguti had earlier threatened to deal with illegal schools operating within Harare.
Illegal schools have a student population ranging between 300 to 1000 students.
